The article, Children are the ‘hidden mourners’ in our society, says child health expert, states,

“Sir Albert Aynsley-Green was just ten years old when his father died unexpectedly in hospital. That event set a path for his own life: his decision to become a pediatrician and his current focus on helping children deal with bereavement and grief.

Children are the “hidden mourners” in our society because scant attention is paid to them when they lose someone important in their lives, he tells The Sunday Edition host Michael Enright.

Often, well-meaning comments about death, such as, “Mommy’s gone to live with the angels in the clouds,” can have unintended negative consequences, says Aynsley-Green.

“Sorrow, anguish, solitude: this is a particularly toxic combination for children.”

From 2005 to 2009, Aynsley-Green became the first person to serve as Children’s Commissioner for England, acting as an advocate for children and young people, to ensure their interests were considered in decisions about public policy. “